Artificial hip joint

ABSTRACT

An artificial hip joint is intended for use in arthroplasty and comprises an acetabulum prosthesis and an artificial caput femoris interconnected for relative movement with one another. The femoral neck is radially curved and tapered, and is disposed eccentrically in relation to a support plate for the prosthesis.

United States Patent Inventor Hannes Vagacs Vienna, Austria Appl. No.828,976

Filed May 29, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee SemperitOsterreichisch-Amerikanische Gummiwerke AG, Vienna, Austria Priority May30, 1968 Austria A5I85/68 INFLATABLE RAPlDLY APPLICABLE BANDAGE OR THELIKE 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 128/87 R, 128/DIG 20 Int. Cl A611 5/04 Field of Search 128/87,

89, 90; INFLATABLE DIGEST 20 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,245,909 6/1941 Enfiajian, I-I 5/348 2,699,165 l/1955 Ferrier, A 128/602,823,668 2/1958 Van Court et al 128/87 3,164,152 1/1965 Nicoll, E128/87 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,614 3/1968 Germany v. l28/DlG 20 PrimaryExaminer- Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-WemerW. Kleeman ABSTRACT: There is disclosed an inflatable rapidly applicablebandage or the like for splinting arms and legs which incorporates aneven number, but at least four hose-like compartments. These hose-likecompartments extend in the direction of the limb or body to be splinted.According to the invention there is provided means for the pressureequalization of each two oppositely situated compartments.

PAIENTED 0111 51am Fig. I

INVENTOF? HANNES VAGACS AT TORNEYS INFLATABLE RAPIDLY ATPLICABLE BANDAGEOR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toa new and improved inflatable rapidly applicable bandage or surgicaldressing for splinting arms and legs which is of the type consisting ofan even number, yet at least four, double-walled hose-like compartmentsextending in the direction of the limb or body to be splinted.

Inflatable quickly applicable bandages or surgical dressings whichlikewise consist of a number of expansible or inflatable double-walledhose-like compartments are already known to the art. These individuallengthwise extending air cushions communicate with one another,therefore can be inflated by the action of a single valve unit. However,this type of construction possesses the disadvantage that even when onlyone wall portion of such a lengthwise extending air cushion becomesunsealed, then the air escapes from all these air cushions.Consequently, the entire dressing or bandage collapses so that thetreated member or limb loses its support. In the case of broken bones,this can result in undesired shifting of the set bones and there-occurrence of pain at the affected area or wound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary objective of thepresent invention to provide an improved inflatable or expansiblebandage or surgical dressing of the mentioned type which effectivelyovercomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art constructions.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to theprovision of an improved inflatable bandage or the like which (a) can beproduced relatively inexpensively, (b) is extremely reliable and safe touse, and (c) especially wherein the danger that damage to a wall of oneof the compartments of the bandage will cause complete collapse thereofis effectively prevented.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, and specifically, to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks ofthe prior art constructions, the inventive inflatable bandage orsurgical dressing will be seen to comprise at least four inflatablecompartments. In each instance, only two oppositely situatedcompartments are in pressure equilibrium with one another. This pressureequalization is achieved, for instance, in that the aforesaid opposedcompartments are connected with one another by a hose member orequivalent structure. Therefore, if air: escapes because of damage tothe wall of one pair of communicatingcompartments, then the secondintact pair of compartments will still insure for the correct setposition of the injured member or limb until the damage to the wall ofthe non-functioning pair of compartments has been repaired byconventional techniques, for instance, by adhesively bonding or patchingthe air-permeable wall location.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an air infeedanddischarge mechanism and, if desired, a pressure measuring device and/oran overpressure valve can be provided at the hose member interconnectingboth of the oppositely situated compartments.

However, it is also possible, according to the invention, to operativelyconnect the two hose members which communicate the respective oppositelysituated compartments with one another, via further connecting hoseswith a common air infeedand discharge mechanism, whereby when the latteris closed, these connecting hoses are shut oft from one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent, when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a preferred embodiment of inventiveinflatable rapidly applicable bandage or the like; and

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a modified form of inventive inflatablebandage, showing details of the arrangement and connection of a commonair infeedand discharge mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, theexemplary embodiment of quickly applicable inflatable bandage orsurgical dressing depicted in detail in FIG. 1 will be seen to consistof four elongated compartments 1. 2. 3, and 4. The central region la,2a, 3a and 4a of each of these compartments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively,extending in the direction of the lengthwise axis thereof will be seento be slightly domed or arched towards the outside. Furthermore,compartments 1, 2, 3, and 4 are rigidly connected with one another attheir lengthwise sides 5, 6, and 7, as shown. The oppositely situatedlengthwise sides lb and 4b of the compartments 1 and 4. respectively,are equipped with a suitable detachable connection device 8. Thisdetachable connection device 8 advantageously may be a zipper, a buttonfastener, a snap-fastener arrangement, a lacing arrangement or the like.

Continuing, it will be recognized that the compartments 1 and 3 areconnected with one another by means of a hose member 9. Hose member 9 isprovided with suitable air infeedand discharge mechanism 10. lnanalagous manner. the compartments 2 and 4 are also interconnected bymeans of a hose member 11, likewise equipped with a suitable airinfeedand discharge mechanism 12. These mechanisms 10 and 12 can be, forinstance, constructed in the form of conventional three-way valves orcocks. Moreover, if desired it would be possible to additionally providefor each air infeedand discharge mechanism 10 and 12, or even for acommon air infeedand discharge mechanism, as will be described below, aconventional pressure measuring device fi andlor overpressure valve 26.as such have been schematically shown in operable association withmechanism 12 of FIG. 1, for instance.

It will be expressly understood that the heretofore described inventivebandage or dressing is not limited in its use to only four compartments;there can be used six. eight. or even more compartments. However, whenusing a larger number of air compartments the inflation of theindividual pairs of compartments can be very cumbersome. It is advantageous, in accordance with the invention. to connect the individual hosemembers with a common air-infeed and discharge mechanism through theagency of suitable connection hoses, whereby these connection hoses arethen shut off from one another upon closing such mechanism. Such anarrangement has been schematically depicted in FIG. 2 where the hosemember 9 for the compartments 1 and 3 and the hose member 11 for thecompartments 2 and 4 are operatively coupled via connection hoses l3 and14, respectively. with a common air infeedand discharge mechanism 15.

Quite clearly then. it should be recognized that the arrangement of aneven number of at least four inflatable hose-like compartments disposedadjacent one another to define a hollow bandage which surrounds the areaofthe limb or member to be splinted or supported, and wherein thesehose-like compartments disposed adjacent one another to positelysituated pairs. affords a very reliable bandage construction forpositively splinting or supporting the afflicted area of the body towhich it is applied. Moreover. the arrangement of cooperating pairs ofsuch hose-like compartments which furthermore are in pressureequalization with one .3 another ensures that proper support of the limbexists at opposite sides, and even if one pair of such compartmentsbecomes defective the remaining pair or pairs will at least providesufficient support until the defective compartments can be repaired.

It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description that theobjects set forth at the outset to the specification have beensuccessfully achieved.

I claim:

1. An inflatable rapidly applicable bandage for splinting arms and legs,comprising an even number of at least four inflatable hose-likecompartments arranged adjacent one another to define a hollow bandagestructure capable of surrounding the area of the member to be splinted,said hose-like compartments being disposed in cooperating oppositelysituated pairs, means for concurrently placing in pressure equalizationeach two oppositely situated compartments of each pair with one anotherand totally independently of the pressure conditions prevailing in theother hose-like compartments, and for maintaining the compartments ofeach pair in pressure equalization independent of the othercompartments, said pressure equalization means incorporating arespective hose member for each two oppositely situated compartments,and air infeedand discharge means provided for said hose members.

2. An inflatable rapidly applicable bandage as detined in claim 1.wherein said air infeedand discharge means comprises a common airinfeedand discharge mechanism for all of said compartments, anda'respective connection hose connecting-said respective hose member ofeach two compartments with said common air infeedand dischargemechanism, so that upon closing the latter, said connection hoses aresealed with regard to one another.

3. An inflatable rapidly applicable bandage for splinting arms and legs,comprising an even number of at least four inflatable hose-likecompartments arranged adjacent one another to define a hollow bandagestructure capable of surrounding the area of the member to be splinted,said hose-like compartments being disposed in cooperating oppositelysituated pairs, means for placing in pressure equalization only each twooppositely situated compartments with one another and totallyindependent of the pressure conditions prevailing in the remaininghose-like compartments, said pressure equalization means incorporating arespective. hose member of each two oppositely situated compartments,and air infeedand discharge means provided for said hose members, saidair infeedand discharge means comprising an individual air infeedanddischarge mechanism for each hose member interconnecting said twooppositely situated compartments.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 235Dated October 1971 Inventofls) Hannes Vagacs It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

The figure on page 1 of the patent has nothing to do with the patentedinvention and is not part of the actual Patent.

It should be removed, and the figure shown below inserted instead.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Abbe St:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents )RM P0-1050 (10-69) uscoMM-oc 50376-P69 Q U 5. GOVERNMENYPRINTING OFFICE V959 D-355-33

1. An artificial hip joint for use in arthroplasty comprising aprosthesis of the acetabulum and a prosthesis of the caput femorismovably interconnected with each other; said prothesis of the caputfemoris including an intraosseous rod, a curved neck constituting anextension of said intraosseous rod and diminishing in thickness in adirection away from said intraosseous rod, and a disc-shaped portion ofincreased thickness at the juncture of said intraosseous rod and saidneck, said curved neck having a central axis which is eccentric withrespect to the central axis of said intraosseous rod and an outer edgeof said neck coincides with and edge of said disc-shaped portion, saiddisc-shaped portion having an opening in the side thereof opposite thepoint of coincidence of the outer edge of said neck and the edge of saiddisc-shaped portion and extending perpendicularly to the axis of saidintraosseous rod, said opening being adapted to accommodate a furtherrod for securing the trochanter major in the course of operation.
 2. Anartificial hip joint as claimed in claim 1, comprising a washer and bushon said intraosseous rod below said disc-shaped portion, said washerhaving a larger diameter than the diameter of the disc-shaped portion.